Press Release

24 November 2005

Hilary Benn announces £25 million more aid for Pakistan Earthquake Relief

An extra £25 million to help the humanitarian relief effort in Pakistan following October's devastating earthquake was today announced by UK International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn. The new pledge is in addition to the £33 million already committed for relief and the £70 million announced last week for long-term reconstruction. It brings the UK's total support for earthquake relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Pakistan to £128 million.

Part of this additional funding will pay for helicopters for the UN. DFID will be taking on the contracts for four medium-life Mi-8 helicopters for a 4 month period. These will be able to deliver relief to any location in the affected area throughout the winter.

Hilary Benn also announced today that the Government of Pakistan will be taking up the Ministry of Defence's offer of a Royal Engineers team. Working in small teams and with Pakistani guides, the British soldiers will help quake survivors in remote villages set up shelters in preparation for the approaching winter.

Hilary Benn said:

"Helping those who survived the disaster through the harsh winter period ahead is now our priority. We are still in a race against time to save people's lives, which is why I am making this further significant commitment today.

The £25m will, in addition to funding helicopters, help pay for shelter, medical care, food, water and sanitation. The international community must now be ready to do more to ensure that the relief effort in isolated areas continues, if we are to avoid further loss of life."

Additional Information

1. DFID support to the quake relief effort to date includes:

  • Today's announcement of the deployment of a Royal Engineers unit, selected for their specialist engineering skills and training in mountain conditions, to help build shelters in remote areas, at a cost of around £2 million.
  • Sending 15 flights carrying 900 tonnes of relief supplies including 40,000 sleeping mats, 30,000 tarpaulins, 27,230 wool blankets, 19,700 jerry cans, 3,500 winterised tents, 3,150 rations, 50 Global Positioning System units, 13 vehicles, 2 forklift trucks and the Humanitarian Information Centre.
  • Over £10 million directly or in support of the United Nations (UN) Flash Appeal including funding for the UN Air Service to maintain airlifts. Over £3 million to the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
  • Over £4 million for 78 aid flights in support of the following organisations: British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, Merlin, World Vision, Oxfam and Save the Children.

2. The four medium lift Mi-8 helicopters contracted by DFID will replace three RAF Chinook helicopters operational in Pakistan since 28 October 2005. The Chinooks have been transferring casualties to Islamabad and flying aid throughout the affected area, carrying a total of just under 1500 tonnes of relief items, 328 passengers and 33 casualties.

3. The death toll in Pakistan controlled Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province currently stands at over 73,000 and nearly 2.5m have lost their homes, many of whom are living in shelters and temporary housing.

4. The Asian Development Bank and World Bank have published an assessment of reconstruction priorities entitled external link Preliminary Damage & Needs Assessment Report.


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